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How The Offset Tool Can Up Your Holiday Game

The offset tool is your best friend when it comes to paper crafting. It adds dimension, depth, and interest to every single project that otherwise might end up flat and boring. No one wants boring.

Today, I’ll show you how to use the offset tool to create these inset holiday gift tags that put the fun in funky. 😉

Here’s the cast of characters:

Cardstock (various colors)

Silhouette CAMEO®

Glue

String

STEP ONE: SETTING UP DESIGNS

As always, I started by setting up my designs in Silhouette Studio®. It always helps me to set up everything in the design space before actually cutting. That way I can get a preview of sorts and fix anything I don’t like.

To create the offset around the trees I followed these steps:

Group the trees together by right clicking and selecting group in the drop down menu.

Right click again and select offset or click the offset button in the top right corner.

Adjust the distance to 0.175 to create a small offset around the trees.

The black you see in the example below is the offset.

4. Separate the offset from the trees and center it on the tag. Create a single cut path by selecting both the tag and the tree outlines and selecting make compound path.

STEP TWO: CUTTING OUT DESIGNS

At this point, you need to separate each element of the design before cutting. The tags themselves have two layers, a solid bottom layer and the top layer that has the cut outs for the trees. I used a light contrasting color on the bottom layer so the trees would pop. These were cut out of a heavy weight card stock for stability.

Cut Settings:

Blade setting:4

Thickness:20

Speed:4

Double cut

Cut the trees and circles out of brightly colored sheets of regular card stock.

STEP THREE: EMBELLISH AND ENJOY!

I used a little bit of tacky glue to put everything together but a regular glue stick would work as well. Just be sure you glue the two parts of the tag together first and then add the trees and circle. Tie a fun string on and you are DONE!

These tags come together so fast, you’ll be able to make a whole bunch in a short time.

There are many ways to incorporate an offset into your daily crafting and designing. For example, this post shows you how to use the offset feature to make a word stand out against a busy background. Then, in this post, Brittany shows you how to use the offset tool to thicken a thin font that doesn’t have a bold option. Lastly, this post shows you how to use an internal offset to create a frame for a photo. These are just a few examples of what you can do with this handy tool.

What are some other ways you use the offset tool when you’re creating?

Girl’s Halloween Tee

How To Use PixScan™ To Decorate Handmade Cards

Designs Used:

christmas tree set

thanks & stripes tag set

Products Used:

New Silhouette CAMEO®

Premium Blade

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12 comments

Claire wilkinson

December 11, 2016 at 1:38 am

I love my cameo but wish I knew more about the various features. One thing I find confusing is that your card stock weight is given in lbs whereas mine is given in gms. E.g. 250gms and being a golden oldie I don’t know how to convert

Well I certainly know what I’d like to get from Santa ( or hubby ) for my Christmas prezzie. Do you think I’ll get it? Yes/No…. I can tell you now the answer is no as I’ve seen what size package he’s got me and unless the silhouette comes in a 5 x 7inch box Iol. Will try not to cry as I’ve not more ideas/clues on how to tell him what I’d like. My don’t I sound selfish lol. Merry Christmas all.

I use the offset tool to make fonts thicker, especially when I want to cut out a delicate curly font that doesn’t have a “bold” option – you can make it just a little thicker and more manageable
Also great for creating a cut border around stickers – cut the offset, not the sticker